Chapter 5.

 Recruiting Companions

The Adventurers’ Guild, located in the center of the cursed city of Needstar, was always bustling.

People searching for party members.

People checking requests.

People bringing back treasures from the Tower to have them appraised.

It was a place where every kind of person gathered.

Even now, with the Tower’s seal broken and monsters pouring into the city, it was no different.

“My party’s still trapped inside! When are they going to take down that barrier?!”

“Damn it… Lena… Please be safe…”

Some worried about companions trapped inside the Tower by the barrier.

“Healers! Anyone who can cast healing magic! Potions!”

Others rushed to tend the wounded.

“What in the world is the Guild Master doing? Shouldn’t he go tell the Lord to do something?!”

“That monster collects enough taxes, but when this happens, they don’t even show their face…”

Others cursed both the Lord—the Tower’s administrator—and the Guild Master while trying to swallow their anger.

Everyone had gathered in the guild hall.

Just as the entire place was on the verge of exploding from anxiety…

A jet-black carriage pulled by four horses came to a stop outside.

“…Isn’t that the Lord’s carriage?”

“The Lord came here?”

Why would that monster, who almost never left the Lord’s Manor, come to the guild?

The news spread instantly.

Adventurers jumped to their feet.

Several bolder ones even stood outside the entrance with their weapons at the ready.

Under countless watchful eyes…

The carriage door opened.

The first person to step out was a silver-haired knight in light armor.

Then a woman draped in a hooded robe descended, taking his hand.

The moment people saw her…

The entire crowd fell silent.

It couldn’t be helped.

The woman was…

Simply…

Overwhelmingly beautiful.

Moments earlier, everyone had been prepared to confront the Lord.

But the instant they saw her face…

Every complaint vanished from their minds.

After slowly sweeping her gaze across the dazed adventurers, she spoke.

“Why are you all standing there looking so absent-minded?”

Only then did one adventurer finally snap out of it.

“Um… Who are you?”

“The ruler of this domain.”

The adventurer froze.

The Lord?

That’s really the Lord?!

Shouldn’t someone who had lived for a thousand years resemble an ancient withered tree?

Was it actually true that they reincarnated by changing bodies?

While he stood there speechless…

The Lord spoke again.

“Ken.”

“Go fetch the Guild Master.”

“…Huh? H-How do you know my—”

For a brief instant…

Her gaze turned as cold as ice.

It practically screamed,

You intend to make me repeat myself?

“…I’ll bring the Guild Master immediately!”

Unable to withstand the pressure, Ken hurried upstairs.

The remaining adventurers exchanged uneasy glances.

That idiot Ken…

How could he cave that easily?

Treating a veteran adventurer like a servant? Just because she’s the Lord?

And making the Guild Master come down here? Is she trying to put adventurers in their place even now?

Ignoring every hostile stare, Camellia walked calmly into the guild.

She sat confidently at the nearest table.

No matter how everyone looked at her…

She remained perfectly composed.

Because there was a very good reason for doing all this.

A critically important one.

My butt hurts too much to climb five flights of stairs!

In Dark Tower, every stat started at 10.

Anything below that incurred penalties.

The penalty for Vitality 6 was Frail.

It caused physical status ailments to occur frequently.

Sometimes…

They were guaranteed.

Riding in a carriage, for example, automatically inflicted Motion Sickness and Burning Tailbone.

Seriously… this body is driving me insane.

Just riding here had left her completely exhausted.

She desperately needed a healer.

She also desperately needed a support character whose +2 Vitality buff would upgrade her from a sickly Lord into merely a delicate Lord.

Which is exactly why I came looking for someone who can do both.

She discreetly checked whether her target was present.

She wanted to recruit them immediately.

But she had to wait.

First…

She needed to fulfill the Recruitment Condition.

And for that…

She needed the Adventurers’ Guild Master.

Guild Master… please hurry.

Fortunately, before her tailbone completely gave up, the Guild Master finally appeared.

He was a balding, pot-bellied middle-aged man.

Rather than an adventurer, he looked more like a shady slave trader.

“My goodness!”

“I had no idea such an honored guest had come to this humble establishment!”

Practically rolling down the stairs, he immediately barked at a young errand boy cleaning the hall.

“You’ve left the Lord unattended?!”

“You!”

“Go fetch some tea immediately!”

While the boy hurried away, the Guild Master rubbed his hands together with an ingratiating smile.

“I’m so relieved to see you’re healthy.”

“And my, your newly reincarnated body suits you wonderfully!”

It was hard to tell whether he was complimenting her…

Or insulting her.

Camellia ignored it.

She hadn’t come here to play political games.

“I intend to hire everyone.”

“There isn’t time to write individual contracts.”

“You, as Guild Master, will handle the details.”

The Guild Master’s eyes widened.

“…Everyone?”

“Yes.”

“Everyone in this room.”

The game already featured a mechanic called Hiring Adventurers.

Normally it served as a support system for farming crafting materials.

Even when fully upgraded…

You could hire only five teams.

But this isn’t a game anymore.

There was no reason to obey arbitrary system limitations.

She intended to hire as many adventurers as possible.

And conveniently satisfy her recruitment condition at the same time.

“Ten platinum coins in advance.”

“When the work is complete, additional rewards will be distributed according to each person’s contribution.”

The instant she finished speaking…

The guild erupted into chatter.

“Ten platinum coins?!”

“That’s a thousand gold!”

“Does hiring all of us mean she’s planning to enter the Tower and repair the seal?”

“Of course we’re doing it!”

“We have to rescue everyone trapped inside!”

Little by little…

The gloomy atmosphere began to brighten.

Even the adventurers who had glared at Camellia with resentment now looked considerably calmer.

Standing beside her, however…

The silver-haired knight Lohengrin looked anything but reassured.

He kept unconsciously touching the hilt of his sword.

His concern was understandable.

The Lord’s current treasury—

Or rather, the game’s starting funds—

Contained only twenty platinum coins.

Right…

The previous Lord spent nearly everything on magical research.

She vaguely remembered that setting.

Camellia had just spent half of the city’s available funds hiring adventurers.

And she’d even promised additional rewards.

Naturally Lohengrin was worried about bankruptcy.

Relax, Lohengrin.

Money can be duplicated later.

Even so…

None of it mattered if she couldn’t convince the Guild Master.

Maintaining a calm expression, she asked,

“Will you accept?”

After a long hesitation…

The Guild Master nodded.

“…If it’s for conquering the Tower…”

“Then yes.”

“I accept.”

“Excellent.”

“Then we have a contract.”

At last.

She had fulfilled the Recruitment Condition.

Her gaze shifted toward the young errand boy, who had cautiously approached to retrieve her empty teacup.

“I’ve hired everyone present.”

“Naturally, that includes you.”

“…Huh?”

“You wish to hire… an errand boy?”

“Did you not hear me?”

“I said everyone present.”

“And you agreed.”

“B-But…”

Rather than looking at the Guild Master…

Camellia stared directly at the boy.

“You have an employment contract with the guild.”

“I have lawfully compensated the guild’s owner and inherited that contract.”

“M-My Lord…”

The Guild Master kept trying to interrupt.

Ignoring him, Camellia delivered the finishing blow.

“You are an Apostle of the Scales.”

“Surely you aren’t planning to violate a contract?”

The Guild Master suddenly froze.

An Apostle of the Scales?

Was she referring to the High Priest of the Golden Scales, the god who governed merchants and contracts?

What is she talking about?

Impossible.

Just the other day this kid had gotten punched for breaking a cup.

There was no way someone like him could be such an important figure.

He was just about to apologize on Camellia’s behalf for the obvious misunderstanding—

“…Heh.”

The boy, who moments ago had looked completely flustered…

Suddenly smiled.

A sly smile.

Like a fox that had just discovered something fascinating.

“Well…”

“You actually figured it out?”